The American road racing scene buzzed with anticipation and hope. Could Ryan Hall become the first American man to win the Boston Marathon since 1983? Could Kara Goucher become the first American woman to win there since 1985?

Neither won Monday, but the notion that such heroics were even worth discussing signified how far American runners progressed during the past decade. Hall and Goucher finished third in their respective divisions, the first time two Americans made Boston podiums in 24 years.

Hall, a Californian and Stanford grad who finished 10th in the Beijing Olympics, ran the latter stages of the race well behind the eventual winner, Deriba Merga of Ethiopia. But Goucher, who won an NCAA cross country title for the University of Colorado in 2000, led most of the last 6 miles only to be outkicked over the last few hundred meters.

An emotional Goucher had difficulty getting through the postrace news conference.

“I just wanted it for everybody that wanted it for me,” said Goucher, a bronze medalist in the 2007 world championships at 10,000 meters and a Beijing Olympian. “I’m proud of how I did. I just wanted to be the one that won for everybody.”

Goucher, 30, made her marathon debut at New York last fall, finishing third there as well. Lisa Larsen-Weidenbach was the last American woman to win Boston. Greg Meyer was the most recent American man to do it.

“People were so proud to see an American up front, and there was a lot of ‘USA!’ cheering,” Goucher said. “Two Americans in the top three is fantastic. I think once things settle in a bit, it’ll be a really great day. We’ll be really proud of this.”

A strong headwind made for a difficult finish.

“It was very hard,” Kosgei said. “I decided I must try. So, I tried.”

In the men’s race, Merga pulled away before Heartbreak Hill and won in 2:08:42. Kenya’s Daniel Rono finished in 2:09:32, and Hall in 2:09:40.

Hall set the early pace on the steep downhill miles of the course, a strategy some thought might be ill-advised.

“I definitely felt like a rookie out there,” Hall said. “I was learning as I went. I’ve been on the course before and got to jog the last 20 miles, but jogging it and racing it are two different things. I was in a lot of pain the last 10K. I’ve got some work to do, but I’m young and I’ll be back.”

Boulder’s Colleen de Reuck, 45 years old and a four-time Olympian, finished eighth in the women’s race and was the top female masters runner.

The Post's ski and Olympics writer, Meyer covered his 12th Games last summer in Rio de Janeiro. He has covered five World Alpine Ski Championships and more than 100 World Cup ski events. He is a member of the Colorado Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame and Colorado Running Hall of Fame. He regularly covers running and the Colorado Rapids.

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